powerrabbit Posted April 25, 2011 Share Posted April 25, 2011 This is the cottage that I picked up at the toy fair yesterday. I believe it's an early 1960's Britains cottage that also doubles as a barn. The pictures show it from different aspects, the first with the foot ruler gives you an idea of the size of it being almost 14 inches in length. Remove the back two end peices and put in the back with the open doorway and it's a barn. The next picture is of it all dismantled in its component parts. I think it's complete apart from one of the triangular corner peices of which the last picture shows a closeup of. If anyone does recognise this building and/or has a spare corner peice going begging or any other parts that may be missing that you recognise I would be most grateful. I can't find any reference to this building, my Britains catalogue collection only goes back to 1967 so if it is Britains it's earlier. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FNHIR Posted April 25, 2011 Share Posted April 25, 2011 It is Britains, but late 80s/early 90s Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
powerrabbit Posted April 25, 2011 Author Share Posted April 25, 2011 Found it! Seems like it was introduced in 1988 and produced up to 1991, 3 years. According to the catalogue it should also have an internal loft section, a ladder, support upright and a foot peice for the upright, these are the bits that are missing plus the one corner peice. Anyone having these parts spare please let me know. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leakeyvale Posted April 26, 2011 Share Posted April 26, 2011 Nice find. I have never seen one of those (wish I had) and it looks as if it is of a much stronger construction than the stable block. If you cannot get the missing pieces you could make the loft floor and the ladder. I am sure it would not be difficult. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
powerrabbit Posted April 26, 2011 Author Share Posted April 26, 2011 Sue. The thickness of the plastic of this cottage/barn is quite thin as it seems to be moulded/pressed and is quite twisty/flexible and not as thick as the buildings such as the implement sheds/barns or the riding stables buildings. I have never seen one of these cottage/barn buildings before this one myself so bought it a little 'blind' so obviously didn't know if it was complete, it's only when you find such items that you tend to look them up and find out whats what, good way to learn. I'm sure that the missing parts will come to light somewhere in time and knowing what to look out for I'll keep my eyes peeled Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leakeyvale Posted April 26, 2011 Share Posted April 26, 2011 The corner looked quite sturdy (looks can be deceptive) Now I know what to look for I will check rummage boxes at toy fairs and if I see anything that looks like the missing bits I will get them for you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
powerrabbit Posted April 26, 2011 Author Share Posted April 26, 2011 Thanks Sue, that would be great. The corner pieces are very sturdy, much on a parr with the other buildings. I'm always on the lookout for Britains buildings parts as when you do find loose ones there is very often a few parts missing. I've got loads of the Atcost buildings and a mountain of spares for them as these seem to be the most common sheds. Was very lucky a couple of years ago to find the riding school set and the eventing set both all complete and in their original boxes. How rare is it to find the 'wild west' barn/building from the 1980's? Saw one Sunday unopened, chap was asking £10 for it, should have bought it me thinks!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaywilli7610 Posted April 26, 2011 Share Posted April 26, 2011 Great find there. Looks to be in great condition. I bought the complete boxed set with playbase a few months back. really nice set and not one you see often. Only problem is the door doesnt seem to fit properly. Please could you post some close up photos of your door so i can see what mine is missing? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
powerrabbit Posted April 26, 2011 Author Share Posted April 26, 2011 Jay. Here is a larger image of the doors. I've extracted and enlarged from one of the previous pictures, may be a little out of focus but will give you an idea. They are attached by means of a sticky backed plastic strip, half over the length of one side of the doors and the other half just stuck to the inside front/side edge of the doorways in the front and side of the building. This sticky plastic on the non-sticky side is black and a sort of felt/flock surface, I would think that a couple of strips of black ducktape would be adequate and would be very similar to what is on mine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tractorman810 Posted April 26, 2011 Share Posted April 26, 2011 i seem to remember having one of those when i was young, lord only knows what happened to it mind, i still have a good 50% of the tractors and implements from then, but that??? long gone Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike R Posted April 26, 2011 Share Posted April 26, 2011 It comes in a set with a playbase which shows a ploughed field MIB they hold a fair price £100 sadly I dont have one to show you I was never lucky enough to get this one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FNHIR Posted April 26, 2011 Share Posted April 26, 2011 It was also featured twice in the painting that used to be on the back of the rainbow-banded boxes, once in each configuration Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
THEBRITFARMER Posted April 26, 2011 Share Posted April 26, 2011 Nice pickup and in the second picture the piece you are using is actually the hayloft floor section. This building never had a back, so all you need now is the support and the ladder Happy Hunting and regards the building for a tenner, Yeah you should of picked it up :'( Here is the set in question Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
powerrabbit Posted April 26, 2011 Author Share Posted April 26, 2011 So Scot, that means to say, or at least your picture shows me, that there is not so much missing as I thought! All I have to look for is the ladder, the upright support and the support base block. No wonder I could not fathom out how the 'back' fitted, because it's actually the loft floor. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
THEBRITFARMER Posted April 26, 2011 Share Posted April 26, 2011 So Scot, that means to say, or at least your picture shows me, that there is not so much missing as I thought! All I have to look for is the ladder, the upright support and the support base block. No wonder I could not fathom out how the 'back' fitted, because it's actually the loft floor. You got it Tim and I am sure at some point these bits will turn up at a show or on eBay. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
powerrabbit Posted April 26, 2011 Author Share Posted April 26, 2011 Re-assembled it and worked out how the loft floor clips into it now and it all made sense, now to keep an eye out for the bits to complete it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CMB Posted April 26, 2011 Share Posted April 26, 2011 Re-assembled it and worked out how the loft floor clips into it now and it all made sense, now to keep an eye out for the bits to complete it. Good luck with your search Tim, I've been looking for a ladder for mine for the past two years without success! I'm not a big fan of this one, it's a very flimsy construction with minimal detail, and not a patch on the clip-together buildings of the 1960s like the Wild West/barn you mentioned. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
powerrabbit Posted April 26, 2011 Author Share Posted April 26, 2011 I might have a go at fabricating a ladder, the upright floor support and the foot plinth, It will serve the purpose for the time being and give me something to do of an evening. As for its flimsyness compared to the other buildings I agree but it's another Britains building, one that you don't seem to find very often and to add to the collection, still worth having. I'll have to look out for the complete boxed set if ever one comes along, you never know, it's all out there somewhere! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marmitemania Posted April 27, 2011 Share Posted April 27, 2011 I have this house mint and boxed a picture of it is in my Britains only collection thread, mum and dad brought it for me new in 1989 and mum seems to think it was around £25. My version is a lot brighter red for the roof tiles, maybe its because it has always been boxed or it just could be different paint. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
case 1056xl mad Posted April 27, 2011 Share Posted April 27, 2011 thats a first for me iv never seen one of those beforfe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
powerrabbit Posted April 27, 2011 Author Share Posted April 27, 2011 The roof is quite a bright red, could be that the colour in the pictures I posted looks a little lighter than the actual item but as you say, this may vary across the production time line. I'm quite surprised that, for a relativeley late produced Britains building, that there seem to be not that many around and that all have found this so interesting, perhaps because the price at the time was quite a lot that not that many were actually sold and the relative short time in production could have some bearing on this. I'm even more glad that I actually bought it now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tractorman810 Posted May 25, 2011 Share Posted May 25, 2011 tim are these bits any good?? they seem to be from your set http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/britains-farm-building-spares-/320704803243?pt=UK_ToysGames_DiecastVehicles_DiecastVehicles_JN&hash=item4aab7ef1ab Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
powerrabbit Posted May 25, 2011 Author Share Posted May 25, 2011 Thanks for that link Sean, I've put it in my watch. Also see the ladder listed as well so watching that one too. Still looking for the loft support post and block. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pentland500 Posted May 25, 2011 Share Posted May 25, 2011 Hi Tim, Just been reading your posts and opened a collection that I bought last week - one door and one corner piece , just what you are looking for ! Send a message if you are interested and I will send them to you ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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